Yay! You're officially on my calendar to document this special milestone! What next?!

First off, we are going to have so much fun!


No matter what type of session you've booked with me, they pretty much roll all the same way, ESPECIALLY if there are kiddos involved. My style is a bit of a hybrid of different things. I consider my self a lifestyle photographer. That doesn't mean I expect you to show up with your adorable baby and family knowing exactly what to do and how to look adorable while doing it! I'll always be there to tell you exactly where to be, and what to do while your there. I'll be "setting the stage" so to speak, then I'll prompt you to interact with one another in a way that brings out your own special connections with one another! Prepare to interact, play, cuddle, and oddly enough-NOT look at the camera very much. I want to show you how gorgeous you look while being a mom/wife/dad and that requires letting your guard down and justing being in the moment with your family. Don't worry, I will get at least 1 "smile and look at the camera" shot of your entire family, but what I mainly want to capture are your unique and precious relationships with one another!

Next up, let the kids be kids!


Getting kids on board can feel overwhelming and a little bit tricky so here are some tips from a photographer and mama who has been getting cranky kids to relax for years-

Biggest tip I can offer is to let them be. Kids are not going to be able to sit and smile for long and thats the beauty of my photography style- THEY DONT NEED TO! The best photos I capture are when you are playing with your kids and just letting them be themselves.

Try to avoid punishing them or threatening them with discipline during the shoot, it almost always doesn't work out the way you had hoped!

Also - I know its hard - trust me I do- but don't constantly instruct them to smile or smile better or to look at me. I will let them know what I want & sometimes that includes not looking at me at all! And if I pause at any time from giving instructions and clicking away, its because I love what they are doing!

I always tells parents - "You can't hear photos" and that is something to remember at your shoot. You can see faces and tension very well in photos but that sound of your toddler screaming? No one will know! I will pose them away if this happens and you can snuggle them close and smile through the chaos and a beautiful raw moment can be captured. Remember to smile and relax. If your child needs a break- that is okay too.

Anything extra I need to know about your kiddos and what they love (certain songs or shows etc) is very helpful and should be mentioned in your questionnaire answers or in an email.

*A quick note about outdoor family sessions: All my sessions happen at sunset - sometimes this is pretty late in the evening so be sure to adjust nap schedules for the day if you have littles

who go to bed early! I do not offer earlier times then "golden hour" for outdoor shoots.

About newborns and babies...


If your seeing me for a newborn or baby milestone session, don't fret! I FULLY expect your newborn to be a newborn, and for your squiggling baby to be just that! Yes, I do have a set "checklist" of shots that I aim to get done, but I order them for whatever works at the time with whatever your precious bundle is throwing at me in that moment, and make adjustments as needed. Don't worry, I am fast and flexible, and I am confident you will have a beautiful and full gallery of images to choose from. Also, during your newborn session, I expect to take frequent breaks for feeds, diaper changes, wiping up spit up, and soothing. I am a mama of 6, I KNOW how it is with a fresh new bub in the first few weeks, especially with other kiddos. I feel you, I am right there with you, and we will get this done together!

Lastly, let it be!


As much as we want everything to be perfect- try not to stress small things like adjusting your hair or stepping in front of a shot to fix your kiddos hair/outfit. Sometimes we have to move fast and only have one chance at the shot when a toddler is "cooperating" and you don't want your hand up fixing your hair in that moment. I will fix anything that needs to be fixed, just enjoy the moment and let go of those worries.

Days leading up and final details...


Outdoor sessions take place in the general Winter Springs/ Oviedo area, and all newborn/milestone sessions take place in my Winter Springs studio. Gallery turnaround times vary from 14-30 days depending on my current workload. I aim to post any sneak peeks within 7 days to social media, but make no promises as sometimes sneak peeks can take quite a bit of time away from just editing and delivering a final gallery. Galleries will be delivered via the email you used to book your session, so please ensure I have an email that you frequently check.

And that's that! I hope I've addressed all or at least most of your questions! As always, please feel free to shoot me an email if you have any other questions at victorianicolephotog@gmail.com!